After eating Schleimfisch and several other dishes, Eris and I continue wandering through the bustling streets of Mistvale’s morning food market, still on the lookout for more food. This time, though, I’m craving something sweet and refreshing to cleanse my taste buds.

“Eris,” I whine dramatically, “I need something sweet to save me… Is there any good dessert around here?”

“Hmmm…” Eris hums, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “A dessert, huh? Let’s go look around!”

“Nn!”

With that, we set off, weaving through the sea of food stalls again. My eyes dart around like a kid in a candy store, scanning for something light, fluffy, and sweet.

Suddenly, I catch sight of a stall selling milk and other dairy products.

My eyes light up.

“Look!” I exclaim, tugging on Eris’s arm. “Milk! It’s cold milk!!!”

“Oh, good eyes!”

We hurry over to the vendor, who’s happily handing out mugs of ice-cold milk. Behind him, another man is working with a blue crystal emitting swirls of mist. As he pours water into a mold and touches it to the crystal—whoosh!—the water instantly freezes into ice.

“WOAAAAHH!! What is that?!” I gasp, wide-eyed, clinging to Eris’s sleeve.

“Oh, that? It’s an ice magic crystal!” Eris grins, clearly enjoying my wonder. “They’re found inside dungeons. Just a little touch, and bam—instant ice!”

“Ooooh! Instant ice?!” My jaw drops.

So that’s how they make ice in this world—amazing!

With that ice, the vendor has managed to serve up cold milk!

Honestly, who needs refrigerator when you have magic this good?

We then get into line. And when it’s our turn, the owner greets us with a cheerful smile.

“Hey ladies, would you like some cold milk?” the vendor asks, motioning to a lineup of frosty milk bottles. “We’ve even got ice cream, if you’re in the mood for something more sweet!”

“Wait, there’s ice cream too?!” My eyes widen in disbelief.

They have ice cream in this world?

THE FREAKING ICE CREAMMM???

“Yup! It’s a popular treat, especially in the summer!” Eris says with a grin. “So, what’s it gonna be—ice milk or ice cream?”

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I glance at the ice creams. They are inside big colorful buckets set in a frosty bath of ice, and there are many different flavors to choose from! Milk, chocolate, berries… So many colors!

Then, the choice is obvious!

“Ice cream, please!” I say, practically bouncing with excitement.

“Alright, two ice creams for us, please,” Eris says.

“And what flavor would you like?” the vendor ask.

I stare at the buckets for a moment. None of the names make sense to me, so I go with the one that is my most favorite color.

“I’ll have the reddest one, please!”

“Oooh, Roterraberry, huh? Nice choice!” Eris winks. “I’ll take the blue one—Azuriberry, please!”

The vendor carefully scoops up our ice cream, drizzles syrup over the cones, and hands them to us. And just like that… voilà! Ice cream!

I cradle mine carefully, as if holding the world’s greatest treasure, then take a tentative lick. The moment my tongue meets the creamy ice cream and that sweet, tangy syrup…

Mmmmmnnnhhhh!!!

“It’s delishhh!!!”

This is exactly what my taste buds needed! The flavor is basically just strawberry ice cream from Earth though, only a bit creamier. But hey, ice cream is ice cream—it’s the best thing ever invented!

“Hmmm, not bad!” Eris says, licking her own cone. “Felicia, wanna try mine?” she then asks.

“Oh? Can I?”

“Of course!”

Roterraberry is good, but not mind-blowing.

Maybe Azuriberry is better?

It’s very blue.

I wonder if it tastes like blueberries.

Thus, we switch cones, and I take a lick of the blue syrup.

Mmmmmhh!!!

I knew it!

This blue stuff is basically otherworldly blueberries!

“So, you like it?” Eris asks, smiling.

“Nn!” I nod, enthusiastically licking away.

But then… I freeze.

Huh? Wait a minute!

Did we just… INDIRECT KISSU AGAIN???

I glance at Eris.

Oh no! She’s licking the exact same spot I just licked!

AAAAAAA!!!

Eris turns to look at me, and instantly, I turn around to hide my face.

My face heats up like a furnace again, and in a blind panic, I take a massive bite of my ice cream to distract myself.

…

“Aaaaaaaa….” I groan, tears filling my eyes. “My head… it hurts!!!”

My tail fluffs up, and my entire body starts to shiver.

This is all Eris’s fault!

“Now, now,” Eris chuckles, looking smug. “You can’t just inhale ice cream like that, silly! You’ll get brain freeze!”

She’s not even helping—just laughing at me!

And for some stupid reason, brain freeze as a catgirl feels ten times worse than when I was human!

————————

After that, by the time we finally exit the bustling food market, it’s already noon, and our bellies are stuffed to the brim. I’m so full that I don’t even think I will need another meal today. Each step feels a little heavier, my body sluggish from all the food, and I just want to lay down somewhere to take a nap.

Still, there are works to do.

Walking toward the center of Mistvale, we soon arrive at a broad main road that’s alive with activity. As we follow it for a few more minutes, we finally reach our destination: The Mistvale Plaza.

According to Eris, here, the Mistvale Public Office, the Commercial Guild and Adventurer’s Guild are the three big entities that are authorized to give people Identity cards.

However, I don’t have any paperwork for these guilds, no proof of where I come from, and no established identity. My chances of getting an ID here are practically zero.

And worse, if they figure out I have no records, things could go south fast. Without proper identification, I could be flagged as either a criminal trying to hide my identity… or worse, a slave with no recognized human rights.

The thought alone is really, really scary.

“Don’t worry, Felicia,” Eris says, taking my hand and giving it a gentle squeeze, her confidence reassuring me.

Previously, she mentioned that she has connections within the Adventurer’s Guild, and that I’ll be fine.

And I trust her. After all, I’ve already put my life in her hands since the moment we met.

Thus, with her leading the way, we step forward, heading toward the largest building in the plaza—The Mistvale Adventurer’s Guild.